![Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) and Head of UNMISS speaks to journalists at a press briefing in Juba on Tuesday, December 10, 2024. [Photo by Sudans Post]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_67681.jpg?resize=1024%2C618&ssl=1)
Speaking at a press conference in Juba on Tuesday, Haysom, who also leads the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), said the development follows a three-day planning retreat held last week. The retreat was facilitated by the UN’s Integrated Electoral Assistance Team.
“Today, I’m pleased to inform you that, just last week, the National Elections Commission (NEC), at the end of a three-day planning retreat facilitated by the UN’s Integrated Electoral Assistance Team, has committed to developing a clear electoral operations timeline that will enable them to deliver credible elections by December 2026,” Haysom announced.
Haysom underscored the importance of voter registration as a foundational step in the electoral process.
He said the timetable would provide a roadmap for addressing critical political, legal, financial, and technical requirements.
“This detailed timetable will outline, not only, the political decisions needed for the NEC to fulfil its responsibilities, but also the legal, financial and technical requirements to fully implement elections within the timeframe,” he said.
He noted that voter registration, a logistics-intensive exercise, is central to ensuring that all eligible South Sudanese citizens have an opportunity to participate in shaping the country’s future.
“Vitally, the NEC has spotlighted the necessity to start immediate preparations for voter registration. This logistics-heavy exercise underpins the entire concept of democratic elections. It’s simple – if you’re not registered to vote, you won’t have a voice in shaping your country’s future,” Haysom added.
The UN envoy called on the South Sudanese government to allocate resources necessary to fund the electoral process. He emphasized that key political, operational, and financial decisions must be expedited to enable timely preparations.
“The NEC has, therefore, unequivocally stated that key political, operational and resourcing decisions linked to voter registration and elections must be taken as soon as possible, so that the actual process of registering voters and preparations for elections can star,” he said.
Haysom also highlighted the importance of establishing a robust legal framework to ensure equitable and credible elections, urging the NEC to plan and implement the process transparently.
“A strong legal framework promotes equity and confidence and is directly linked to elections that are considered legitimate, free and fair by the people of South Sudan,” he explained.
The UN envoy cautioned against the risks of holding elections without public confidence, warning that such a scenario could lead to instability.
“I want to underscore that elections that don’t have the confidence of the population could be catastrophic for the country, even possibly sending it back into a relapse into conflict,” he said.
“It’s the outcome we must collectively strive to avoid at all costs because neither South Sudan nor the broader region can afford another war,” Haysom added.
